The Blockheads at The Ironworks on 20/11/2015. A review.
For the second time in five days I’m pleased to find that I’m not the oldest guy at the gig . . . which is a massive hint that we’re going back to the 70’s. Certainly Inverness’s own Sara Bills and The Hasbeens give a nod and a wink to that era delivering their own brand of post punk inspired pop and rock. It’s a fine way to kick start the night. I might get slapped for this, but, I like Sara’s ‘I don’t give a shit what you think’ attitude. At least that’s how she comes across, a bit gallus.
whoever made the call on support act got it bang on
Tonight I thought they were sounding particularly good. I don’t feel that they are a band I have particularly seen a lot of – last sighting for me was I think Jocktoberfest 2014 – but there is always an enthusiastic crowd, dancing and singing along and, I’m pleased to say I’m now recognising most of the songs, always a good sign. ‘That is That’ her employment rights protest song (‘get pregnant, get fired’) was new to me – feisty. Elsewhere ‘The Goat’ put in an appearance and ‘Room With A View’ went down particularly well. Cracking start to the evening – whoever made the call on support act got it bang on.
I’m not sure what’s worse: trying to write for the eleventyfirst time about an act you’ve seen way too often or, writing about an act in their fifth, yes fifth, decade.
There was nobody there who didn’t know what to expect from The Blockheads and there was nobody there who left disappointed.
there was plenty of gentle bobbing around
They hit some of the most infectious grooves this side of Essex and they sound as fresh and exciting today as they did when they first fell on our punk and new-wave ears. A lot has changed since a certain 1980 gig at Tiffany’s in Glasgow that had Wilko Johnson machine-gunning the crowd and the late Ian Dury falling about in a bright yellow Dooleys t-shirt. There weren’t too many donkey jackets on display at the Ironworks, but there was plenty of gentle bobbing around.
They are a band that has divided opinion in a Marmite kind of way. It’s only a guess but it just might be due to the fusion of blues, reggae, punk, pub-rock, jazz-funk and rock n roll that they peddle so beautifully. It’s not for everyone and I suppose neither is that particular unique take on vocals. If none of that grabs you then your left floundering with a performance of the knees up music hall single entendre laden variety.
Tonight though there were no dissenters as The Blockheads rolled out some of their finest – What a Waste (with raspberry intro), Blockheads, Rhythm Stick, Wake Up and Reasons to be Cheerful all featured. They ended on ‘Lullaby for Francis’, with the band leaving one at a time to generous applause leaving it to Norman Watt-Roy to bid us good night – a fine end to a particularly fine evening.
